war of the spider queen 1 dissolution-第43章

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　some　formidable　magic　to　protect　her　valuables。　It　was　too　bad　she　wasn't　similarly　careful　with　her　life。
Gromph's　agent　flowed　forward；　and　something　reared　hissing　atop　a　round　little　table。　It　was　the　five　vipers　prising　an　enchanted　whip。　Distracted　by　the　magical　power　blazing　at　the　back　of　the　chamber；　the　netherspirit　had　missed　feeling　the　lesser　emanations　of　the　vipers。
Fortunately；　it　didn't　matter。　The　animate　darkness　had　skulked　too　close　to　its　prey　for　anything　to　balk　it。　It　solidified　a　twisting　strand　of　itself　and　slapped　the　table　over；　sending　the　whip　flying。　At　the　same　time　it　darted；　stretching；　to　pounce　on　Quenthel。
Her　slanted　eyes　opened　but　of　course　saw　only　blackness。　She　opened　her　mouth　to　speak　or　shout；　and　the　demon　shoved　a　tendril　inside。














C　h　a　p　t　e　r


S　E　V　E　N　
For　an　instant；　the　world　blazed　bright　and　hot；　searing　Pharaun's　skin。　However；　when　the　flame　was　gone　it　left　little　more　than　a　tactile　memory　of　pain。　Gasping；　the　wizard　took　stock　of　himself。　Except　for　a　blister　or　two；　he　was　all　right。　Some　bination　of　the　protective　enchantments　woven　into　both　his　vest　and　piwafwi；　his　innate　drow　resistance　to　hostile　magic；　and　the　silver　ring　he　wore　bearing　the　insignia　of　Sorcere；　had　saved　him　from　fatal　burns。
Ryld　had　drawn　Splitter。　An　arrow　whizzed　down　from　a　rooftop　across　the　street；　and　the　burly　swordsman　batted　it　out　of　the　air。　A　huge　flying　mount　wheeled　overhead；　vanishing　from　view　before　Pharaun　could　get　a　good　look　at　it。
〃Are　you　all　right？〃　Ryld　asked。
〃Just　singed　a　little；〃　Pharaun　replied。
〃Here　are　your　rogues；　not　so　canny　after　all。　We'll　either　have　to　rise　into　the　air　after　them　or　pull　them　down　to　the　street。〃
〃We'll　do　neither。　Follow　me。〃
〃Run？〃　the　weapons　master　asked；　swatting　away　another　arrow。　〃I　thought　we　wanted　to　catch　one　of　them。〃
〃Just　follow。〃
Pharaun　began　moving　down　the　street；　meanwhile　peering　upward；　looking　for　his　attackers。　Ryld　scowled　but　trailed　along　behind　him。
The　Master　of　Sorcere　glimpsed　a　swirling　motion　from　the　corner　of　his　eye。　He　pivoted。　Crouched　on　the　edge　of　a　roof；　a　spell　caster　spun　his　hands　in　fluid　mystic　passes。
Gesturing；　speaking　rapidly；　Pharaun　rattled　off　his　own　incantation。　He　was　racing　the　other　mage；　and　he　finished　his　magic　first。　Five　darts　of　azure　light　leaped　from　his　fingertips；　shot　at　the　spell　caster；　and　plunged　into　his　chest。　From　that　distance；　he　couldn't　tell　how　badly　he'd　hurt　his　colleague；　but　at　the　least　his　foe　flailed　his　arms　in　pain。　The　Acanotdemician's　attack　had　disrupted　his　spell。
Ryld　knocked　another　arrow　away；　and　only　then　did　Pharaun　realize　that　this　time；　the　shaft　had　been　hurtling　at　him。　An　instant　later；　a　studnotded　mace　seemingly　made　of　shadow　flew　out　of　nowhere　and　swung　itself　at　his　head。　Splitter　flicked　over　and　tapped　that　manifestation。　As　connotjured　objects　often　did；　the　war　club　vanished　at　the　great　sword's　touch。
〃In　here；〃　Pharaun　said。
The　two　masters　ran　to　the　arched　sandstone　door　of　one　of　the　modest　houses　on　the　street。　Pharaun　suspected　that　the　tenants　had　locked　it　at　the　first　sign　of　trouble；　and　evidently　Ryld　agreed；　because　he　didn't　bother　trying　the　handle。　He　simply　booted　the　door　and　broke　the　latch。　The　weapons　master　scrambled　inside。
The　front　room　of　the　home　was　crowded。　Pharaun　might　have　exnotpected　that。　The　population　of　the　city　had　grown　considerably　since　its　founding　but　the　number　of　stalagmite　buildings　was　of　necessity　fixed。　The　poor　had　to　squeeze　in　wherever　they　could。
Thus；　an　abundance　of　paupers　lived　in　the　hovel；　and　a　goodly　number　of　them　had　gathered　in　this　mon　space；　either　to　relax　or　to　dip　rothe　stew　from　the　iron　caldron　on　the　trestle　table。　Surprisingly；　the　simple　meal　actually　smelled　appetizing。　The　aroma　made　Pharaun's　mouth　water　and　reminded　him　that　he　hadn't　dined　in　several　hours。
Ryld　brandished　Splitter　at　the　occupants　of　the　house　with　a　flashy　facility　calculated　to　quell　aggressive　impulses。
〃We　apologize　for　the　intrusion；〃　Pharaun　said。
The